Local writers will be delving for gold this year with the launch of the Clarence Valley’s annual writing competition. 

‘Heart of Gold’ is the 2025 competition theme, according to The Long Way Home’s Claire Aman. ‘We invite writers to interpret it how they like,’ said Claire. “We’re hoping to get a trove of original stories that explore all the richness in this theme. In these times we’re all searching for a heart of gold: a shiny nugget freely given, or even a speck of kindness. It’s a potent symbol. We’re very excited to see what writers come up with. 

‘We want stories from primary and high school students, and stories from adults. You don’t need any qualifications or experience, you just need to make up a story with heart. We’re looking for imaginative stories that surprise us, stories that make us curious about what happens next, stories that make us laugh or make us cry.’

As with previous years, the best entries will be published in a book. ‘Stories from the Clarence Valley 2025 – Heart of Gold,’ will be released at the end of this year.

The Long Way Home is a writing collective that helps Clarence Valley people of all ages find their voice through creative writing. Since 2018, it has published seven books featuring 372 stories.

‘The competition grows more popular each year,’ said Claire. ‘We discovered some fabulous writing last year, especially from winners Gra Murdoch, Jia Atwal and Lilly Mulqueen. We’re expecting to find new talent this year as writers unearth the beating, gleaming heart of gold.’

The deadline for all stories is 1 June. Adults’ stories have a 2,500-word limit, while high school and primary students have a 500-word and 200-word limit respectively. More details on how to enter the competition can be found on www.thelongwayhomestories.com.